Comments on: Answer to a reader: I hate my corporate job. Should I become an entrepreneur?

By: steve

steve — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:29:36 +0000

Great Article! Your article applies to my current situation. I really haven’t truly decide whether I should be an entrepreneur or not, but like you said what if you only have 30 days to live? Right now I’m broke and you can’t get lower than broke right. Thanks for your helpful article. I wish you the best!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:47:32 +0000

Hey Jun-

Your answer to the main question of this post is consistent with my experience, and it’s something that doesn’t get said enough.

My friend Jared Goralnik wrote on this not too long ago, and it was an eye-opener for me. (http://www.technotheory.com/2009/10/entrepreneurial-myth/)

It’s an important topic that probably can’t be repeated often enough, and you said it well.

By: Angela Parker

Angela Parker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:30:03 +0000

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By: Allmendinger Enterprises

Allmendinger Enterprises — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:14:37 +0000

I agree with your argument, but entrepreneurship would give the person in question much more control over their career path and lifestyle. I don’t think you can emphatically say that a person shouldn’t try to start a business. It’s not like the world ends when a startup fails…you just go get another corporate job.

By: Tiara

Tiara — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:42:06 +0000

Im about to go back to school after a 2 year hiatus (quit because I couldnt afford it, plus it was getting boring so I went out into the workforce). Im looking for a career path. Im really good at coming up with ideas (I guess you would call that marketing). There is not such thing as VP of Coming Up With Ideas, so what should I do to make $$. (I dont want to be a starving artist) Im not much of a creative (besides coming up with ideas). My first instincts is business because Im really good at it (ran a few of my own in high school), plus I really enjoy the marketing aspect of creating new ways to reach different audiences… what would u suggest? I would love to work for Naked Communications or Widen + Kennedy, but I am not sure what I could offer them…

By: Barbara Saunders

Barbara Saunders — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:05:11 +0000

@Lance, I find it interesting that the minimum criteria you set for being an entrepreneur are so high. I can’t tell from your post what kind of job you have or what kind of money you might earn. What I can say from years of observation is that a lot of people making middlin’ salaries could make at least as much working for themselves and possibly slightly more.

Is the standard really, “If I can’t make $10M, I’d rather deal with HR b.s., lazy coworkers, etc., etc., etc., than NOT have to deal with those things and make the same money?”

That makes no sense to me.

And when you say, “If my company fails, I lose it all,” you’re wrong about that. I know people who started businesses with minimal investments, earned 6 figures annually for a decade or more, paid for their homes, and only then did the business fail relatively quickly and painlessly. In each of these cases, the business owner earned more in the same time period than he was earning in the job he left.

By: Jun Loayza

Jun Loayza — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:38:30 +0000

Cool, I think that’s the first time someone found my site through Technorati

What startup are you working on?

By: Garrett Miller - Young Entrepreneur

Garrett Miller - Young Entrepreneur — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:29:33 +0000

Hey Jun, found your blog on Technorati… Looks like we’re in a really similar niche! Just wanted to stop by and let you know that your site looks great, and you gave some great advice in this post. People who aren’t willing to risk it all at becoming a successful entrepreneur should think long and hard, as even though you often DON’T need to give it all up to succeed, you need the mindset that you COULD if you had to. Success comes to those willing to struggle for it.

Looking forward to your future posts,

Garrett

By: Jun Loayza

Jun Loayza — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:55:50 +0000

I don’t think you ever know for certain.

I remember the day I took the plunge. For about a week, I was thinking about quitting. One day, I stood up from my desk, walked over to the bathroom, looked myself in the mirror and asked myself:

“What are you waiting for? Stop being such a scared little shit and just do it.”

Seriously! I knew that if I didn’t do it right then and there, another week or month would go by without me taking action.

So I went to my desk, and immediately sent my manager my two week notice. It was finally done, and I felt so relieved.

Ask yourself this question: “If I lost my job right now, what’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Honestly, its not that hard to bounce back on your feet. Even if your startup fails, you’ll be fine in the long run

By: Lance

Lance — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:32:11 +0000

Jun, you’re probably right that I’m not ready for entrepreneurship. There are too many things I’m probably not ready to let go of. Maybe my place is at a small, growth-oriented company that has already secured a few rounds of funding. You’ve given me a lot to think about. One thing I’m wondering though:

I’m sure you had your doubts before you started. After all, you took a consulting job at one point. So when you finally took the plunge, how did you know you were ready? Why then and not sooner or later? How will I know if/when I’m ready?

Thanks